Riot Police Storm Harmondsworth Detention Centre After Major Uprising
Chaos erupted at Harmondsworth detention centre near Heathrow in the early hours of Saturday, 5th November 2022. Over 100 detainees sparked a major disturbance just after 3am, forcing riot police from the Met, along with armed officers and emergency services, to swoop on the scene.
Knives, Wood and Fires: Staff Flee as Power and Water Fail
Firefighters from multiple London stations rushed in after reports that detainees had armed themselves with knives and lumps of wood. The centre faced power and water blackouts, with a specialist engineer called in to fix the outage. Staff were forced to retreat after threats of violence, following several fires set the previous evening that centre workers had battled.
Detainees Break Into Courtyard – Air Support Called in
The volatile crowd reportedly broke out of the centre and accessed the courtyard. Police brought in a National Police air support helicopter from Essex to monitor the mayhem from above and relay live updates to commanders coordinating with centre staff to restore order.
Elite Tactical Units Deployed to Quell Disorder
The Territorial Support Group (TSG), made up of highly trained public order officers ready to respond 24/7, has been deployed. These officers specialise in handling spontaneous unrest, prison disturbances, building searches, and are often first on the scene for major incidents. Some are authorised firearms officers. Numerous police vans remain at and around the centre. Details on injuries or damage remain unclear.
Official Response: Home Office and Met Police Weigh In
Home Office spokesperson: “There has been a power outage at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre, and work is currently underway to resolve this issue. The welfare and safety of staff and individuals detained at Harmondsworth is our key priority.”
Further statement: “We are aware of a disturbance at the centre and the appropriate authorities have been notified and are on scene.”
The Home Office and Met Police have been approached for further comment as the situation develops.
